Poachers attack gamekeepers in Quorn House Park - 1882

Loughborough Advertiser - 27th July 1882

A serious collision between game keepers and a gang of poachers occurred at Quorndon on Wednesday night. From the facts which have come to light, it appears that the head gamekeeper in the employ of Mr Farnham, was out watching between 11-12 o’clock when he observed several men in the Park, whom he suspected of being poachers. Instead of accosting them at once he procured assistance, and on returning found five or six men busily engaged in setting nets. The keeper and his co-adjurors judiously concealed themselves for a time until an opportunity seem to have occurred favourable to the identification or apprehension of the marauders. When the Keeper and his assistant made their appearance, the poachers who were armed with sticks and stones, showed signs of resistance, and behaved in a demonstrably violent manner. The watchers of course gave chase when the poachers retreated, and followed them in the direction of a pond. In their eagerness to escape arrest, the poachers, with the exception of one who had the misfortune to be caught just before he reached the banks, took to the water, at the same time continuing their menaces towards their pursuers. One other of the poachers, named Green, a Loughborough man, was captured in the water, but the remaining men effected their escape. The scheme of the poachers were apparently laid upon a somewhat gigantic scale. No less than three nets, full sized, were found to have been possessed by them, besides a supply of pegs and a driving line. Nor had they been altogether unsuccessful in their endeavours to procure game, there being fifty rabbits already destroyed.

The two men were taken at once to Loughborough police station . One gave the name of Frederick Green, and the other that of Thomas Walker of Leicester.